Cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus is disclosed to include a housing, a conical receptacle fixedly provided inside the housing for holding an umbrella in an inverted and partially opened condition, a vacuum pump fixedly mounted inside the housing and connected to the conical receptacle for producing a negative pressure to suck in dust and water from the inserted umbrella in the conical receptacle, and a hot air blower installed in the housing for flowing hot current of air into the inside of the conical receptacle to dry the inserted umbrella.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cleaning apparatus and more particularly, to such a cleaning apparatus specifically designed to clean and dry umbrellas and shoes.

2. Description of the Related Art

When walking or riding a bicycle or motorcycle under the rain, the umbrella, shoes, and/or raincoat will become wet and be covered with dirt. Before entering the house, the user may put the wet umbrella in an umbrella rack or receptacle to let rainwater flow away, or shake the wet umbrella to remove rainwater. However, managing the wet umbrella in this manner cannot dry the wet umbrella in a short time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus, which is practical for use to clean and dry a wet umbrella. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus, which is practical for sue to clean and dry wet shoes.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a conical receptacle fixedly provided inside the housing for holding an umbrella in an inverted and partially opened condition, a vacuum pump fixedly mounted inside the housing and connected to the conical receptacle for producing a negative pressure to suck in dust and water from the inserted umbrella in the conical receptacle, and a hot air blower installed in the housing for flowing hot current of air into the inside of the conical receptacle to dry the inserted umbrella.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a status of use of the shoe cleaning unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate form of the cleaning apparatus according to the present invention, showing a hot air blower provided inside the housing.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing stub pegs arranged on the inside wall of the conical receptacle according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing meshed fabric lining arranged on the inside wall of the conical receptacle according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing bristles arranged on the inside wall of the conical receptacle according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing showing lines of triangular rods arranged on the inside wall of the conical receptacle according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing showing conical tips arranged on the inside wall of the conical receptacle according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1˜3, a cleaning apparatus in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a housing 1, a conical receptacle 12 fixedly provided inside the housing 1 and adapted to hold an umbrella 5 in an inverted and partially opened condition, a vacuum pump 2 fixedly mounted inside the housing 1, a drain pipe 23 extended from the output side of the vacuum pump 2 to the outside of the housing 1, a main suction pipe 21 connected between the bottom side of the conical receptacle 12 and the input side of the vacuum pump 2 and adapted to guide dust and water drops from the fabric panels 51 of the inserted umbrella 5 in the conical receptacle 12 to the outside of the housing 1 through the drain pipe 23, a shoe cleaning unit 4 provided outside the housing 1, a supplementary suction pipe 22 inserted through a hole (not shown) on the peripheral wall of the housing 1 and connected between the shoe cleaning unit 4 and the main suction pipe 21. The conical receptacle 12 has guide grooves 121 on the inside for guiding air.

The shoe cleaning unit 4 comprises a box 41 having a cover 42, a footplate 43 provided inside the box 41, a plurality of spring members 431 fixedly mounted inside the box 41, and a footplate 43 supported on the spring members 431 inside the box 41. The cover 42 is hinged to one side of the box 41, having two openings 421. When the footplate 43 receives no pressure, the spring members 431 support the footplate 43 in such a position that the footplate 43 closes the top open side of the box 41.

When in use, the user has the legs 441 inserted into the box 41 to rest the shoes 44 on the footplate 43, and then the cover 42 is covered on the box 41 for enabling the legs 441 to pass through the openings 421, and then the vacuum pump 2 is started to produce a vacuum that sucks in dust from the shoes 44 through the supplementary suction pipe 22.

Further, a control panel 111 is installed in the outside wall of the housing 1 and electrically connected to the vacuum pump 2, having operation buttons 112 for controlling the on/off and operating time of the vacuum pump 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, a rack 127 may be mounted in the conical receptacle 12 to support an umbrella 5 in the conical receptacle 12 above the bottom side of the conical receptacle 12. The rack 127 has a through hole 128 for guiding rainwater from the inserted umbrella 5 in the conical receptacle 12 into the main suction pipe 21 when the vacuum pump 2 does no work. Further, the housing 1 has a folding cover 11 adapted to close the top open side of the housing 1.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, an electric hot air blower 3 is installed in the housing 1 and electrically connected to the control panel 111. A T-bar 31 is fixedly mounted in the housing 1. The T-bar 31 has a first end connected to the electric hot air blower 3 for receiving hot air from the hot air blower 3, a second end connected to the shoe cleaning unit 4 through a pipe 33, and a third end connected to an output pipe 32 that can be rotated relative to the T-bar 31 to have the distal end aimed at the inside space of the conical receptacle 12 or the space outside the housing 1.

Referring to FIGS. 5˜9, the conical receptacle 12 may be made having stub pegs 122 (see FIG. 5), a meshed fabric lining 123 (see FIG. 6), bristles 124 (see FIG. 7), lines of triangular rods 125 (see FIG. 8), or lines of conical tips 126 arranged on the inside wall for guiding currents of air.

A prototype of cleaning apparatus has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1˜9. The cleaning apparatus functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a housing, a conical receptacle fixedly provided inside said housing and adapted to hold an umbrella in an inverted and partially opened condition; and a vacuum pump fixedly mounted inside said housing and connected to a bottom side of said conical receptacle through a main subjection pipe and adapted to produce a vacuum to suck in dust and water from the inserted umbrella in said conical receptacle.
 2. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a hot air blower mounted inside said housing and adapted to produce a hot current of air, and a hot air piping connected to said hot air blower for guiding hot air to the inside of said conical receptacle.
 3. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a shoe cleaning unit provided outside said housing, said shoe cleaning unit comprising a box, a plurality of spring members mounted inside said box, a footplate supported on said spring members inside said box, a cover hinged to one side of said box and adapted to close a top open side of said box, and a suction pipe connected between said vacuum pump and said shoe cleaning unit for guiding a negative pressure from said vacuum pump to the inside of said box.
 4. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing has a control panel electrically connected to said vacuum pump, said control panel having a set of operation buttons for controlling on/off and operating time of said vacuum pump.
 5. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an umbrella rack mounted inside said conical receptacle for supporting an umbrella in said conical receptacle.
 6. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conical receptacle has a plurality of longitudinal guide grooves on an inside wall thereof.
 7. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conical receptacle has a plurality of stub pegs arranged on an inside wall thereof for guiding air.
 8. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conical receptacle has a plurality of a meshed fabric lining arranged on an inside wall thereof for guiding the flow of currents of air.
 9. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conical receptacle has a plurality of bristles arranged on an inside wall thereof for guiding the flow of currents of air.
 10. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conical receptacle has lines of triangular stub rods arranged on an inside wall thereof for guiding the flow of currents of air.
 11. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conical receptacle has lines of conical tips arranged on an inside wall thereof for guiding the flow of currents of air.
 12. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a shoe cleaning unit provided outside said housing, said shoe cleaning unit comprising a box, a plurality of spring members mounted inside said box, a footplate supported on said spring members inside said box, a cover hinged to one side of said box and adapted to close a top open side of said box, a suction pipe connected between said vacuum pump and said shoe cleaning unit for guiding a negative pressure from said vacuum pump to the inside of said box, and a hot air pipe connected between said box and said T-bar for guiding hot air from said hot air blower to the inside of said box. 